If you occasionally drink a little too much alcohol, it may not cause lasting damage if you are in good health. But if you drink heavily on a regular basis, it’s a different story.
For most men, this was defined as having more than four drinks a day, or more than 14 or 15 drinks a week. For women, heavy drinking is defined as having more than three drinks per day, or seven to eight drinks per week.
Drinking too much alcohol can damage your body and mind in many ways.
Table of Contents
Liver damage
Alcohol is a toxin, and the liver’s job is to flush it out of the body. But if you drink too much too fast, your liver may not be able to keep up. Alcohol can kill liver cells and cause scarring called cirrhosis. Long-term heavy drinking can also lead to alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is a sign that the liver is not working properly.
Heart disease
You may know about the dangers of blood clots and high levels of fat and cholesterol in your body. Alcohol makes both of these things more likely. Studies of alcoholics have also shown that they are more likely to have trouble pumping blood to the heart and are more likely to die from heart disease.
Brain and nervous system problems
Alcohol affects the brain’s communication pathways. This makes it harder for you to think and speak clearly, remember things, make decisions, and move your body. Heavy drinking can also lead to mental health problems such as depression and dementia. You may suffer painful nerve damage that may last long after you are awake.
anaemia
This is when your body is unable to produce enough healthy red blood cells to deliver oxygen. This can give you ulcers, inflammation and other problems. Drinking too much alcohol may also make you more likely to skip meals, which reduces iron in your body.
cancer
There is a clear link between heavy drinking and many types of cancer. Alcohol damages cells in the mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus. It can cause liver, breast and bowel cancer. Alcohol can help cancer-causing chemicals from tobacco and other sources get into cells more easily.
seizure
Chronic alcohol abuse may increase the risk of epilepsy. And withdrawal from alcohol after heavy drinking can cause seizures.
gout
This form of arthritis is pain caused by a buildup of uric acid in the joints. Gout may be caused by eating too many foods rich in purine chemicals, including red meat, shellfish, and alcohol, especially beer and liquor.
infect
Heavy drinking blocks immune cells from fighting off viruses and bacteria. It can also damage your liver, which plays an important role in your immune system by making antibacterial proteins.
Digestive problems
Wine is corrosive. It inflames the stomach wall, causing heartburn and nausea. Over time, this can lead to ulcers and chronic inflammation of the stomach, esophagus and intestines. It can also make it harder for the gut to digest important nutrients like vitamin B12 and thiamine. Alcohol also causes digestive enzymes to build up in the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. This affects the amount of insulin you produce, putting you at higher risk for diabetes.
Sleep
Heavy drinking may make you drowsy at night. But once the sedative effect wears off, it can disrupt or reduce the quality of your sleep. Regular heavy drinking can make it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. It can also increase symptoms of snoring and sleep apnea, making it difficult to get a good night’s rest.
How to get help
If you think you may have a drinking problem, seek help. Consult your doctor, therapist, or addiction specialist. Find online support groups. Some people manage to kick the habit on their own. But if you feel you need extra help, you may want to check out your local AA branch. Learn more about outpatient alcohol treatment.
